The Pope received the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, accompanied by his wife and by Commissioner Barnier, in private audience on Friday, 30 November. After his meeting with John Paul II, the President of the European Commission met Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano and Msgr. Jean-Louis Tauran, Secretary for the Holy See’s Relations with States. “The conversations reported the director of the Press Room of the Holy See focused on the priorities of the European Union, in particular the process of reform of the Treaties of the Union and the EU’s enlargement to new members”. “At the same time Navarro noted emphasis was placed on the contribution that the Churches may make in Europe and the need for their adequate juridical recognition within the Union’s legal framework. The efforts being made by the EU in the fight against terrorism and the search for a just peace in the Middle East were also discussed”.
